Head of Technical Unit

Location: Lviv or Kyiv, with 30% travels to Dnipro and Odessa

Reporting line manager: Deputy Country Director – Program Implementation

Duration: 12 months

Start date: As soon as possible

Conditions: Employment contract, gross monthly salary €6,000, Risks allowance of €300-400/month (low-medium risks areas), Management Allowance €200, medical insurance and repatriation insurance and accommodation provided. Visa fees covered. Contribution to the luggage transportation up to €250. R&R (5 working days) every 8-12 weeks with an allowance of €1,000. Annual leave of 28 days per fiscal year.

CARE INTERNATIONAL

CARE International (CI) is among the world’s largest international non-governmental humanitarian relief and development confederations. Drawing on more than 75 years of experience, through its 21 Members, as both a practitioner and thought leader, CI’s work reaches over 100 countries worldwide to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.

CARE’s vision is to seek a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice; where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. CARE focuses heavily on women and girls, and the areas of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty and social injustice until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We recognize that power relations between people and within systems and structures are unequal and that these are entrenched in our broader systems, structures, and institutions.

At the core of the CI Confederation is a globally distributed Secretariat, which provides coordination and support to its members in areas including governance, strategic planning, communications, membership development and accountability, advocacy, humanitarian response, and program development. In addition, the Secretariat represents the CI Confederation at the United Nations and the European Union, and with other external stakeholders.

Context in Ukraine

On 24th February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine marked a significant escalation to the conflict that started in 2014. It continues to profoundly impact the lives of people across the country at various levels. The front line is continuously shifting and there are areas under Russian military control, as well as cities under siege. Attacks on military installations and critical civilian infrastructures are conducted in the whole territory of Ukraine, often resulting in collateral civilian casualties. The conflict has caused the largest population movement in Europe since World War II, with over 5 million currently displaced within Ukraine and 6 million refugees across Europe. OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) had counted 17.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

At least one-third of the country’s energy infrastructure is damaged, leaving millions without heating and access to water. In October 2022, the Russian Federation claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian oblasts, further increasing the challenge of access to these areas. Therefore, an ongoing priority for the international humanitarian response is to reach newly accessible areas in the East and South, and to provide aid to previously unreachable and particularly hard-hit areas of Ukraine.

CARE UKRAINE

CARE prioritizes a locally led response and is partnering primarily with Civil-Society Organizations (CSOs), National NGOs (Non-Government Organization), local authorities, and when needed, INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations) with a longstanding presence in the country and access to hard-to-reach areas. CARE Ukraine deliberately and strategically prioritizes partnerships with local and national Women Led and Women Rights organizations (WLO’s/ WRO’s), further strengthening the Gender in Emergencies (GiE) principle and the Women Lead in Emergencies (WLiE) approach.

In the first few weeks after the escalation of the war, virtually all humanitarian aid inside Ukraine was organized and implemented by local actors. These groups (together with local authorities) remain the principal aid providers but are quickly being exhausted of funds, fuel, and physical energy. Thereby, a considerable proportion of CARE’s resources is dedicated to strengthening and supporting the capacities of local partners.

As of October 2023, CARE Ukraine has established partnerships with over twenty local/national organizations (incl. WLO’s/WRO’s). From the more than 45 million that have been raised for Ukraine thus far, more than half is allocated to local/national partners. Through the activities that have been implemented so far, CARE Ukraine has been able to reach more than 800,000 people, including IDPs and affected populations in hard-to-reach areas.

While CARE Ukraine’s country office is currently located in Lviv, we also have a coordination office in Kyiv as well as area offices in Dnipro and Odesa, covering both the East and South of the country.

Role Objectives

Under the supervision of the DCD-PI (Deputy Country Director Program Implementation), the Head of Technical Unit leads on the development of high quality, gender responsive, innovative programs based on data and experience gathered from the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) of those programs. The role supports programs in Ukraine, which is implemented via our different area offices. The position ensures that programs are designed in accordance with the country strategy and the values shared between CARE and partners. The position is also responsible for ensuring the quality of programs and providing technical capacity building of partners in sectoral areas. The position also provides management, working closely with the DCD-PI in assuring that the CARE program is closely coordinated with the humanitarian community and coordination architectures nationally and regionally, incorporating research and best practices to inform the quality of our work. The Head of the Technical Unit will be managing six technical staff: Protection TA (Technical Advisor), GiE TA, WLiE TA, FSL (Food Security and Livelihoods) TA, Shelter and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) TA, and SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health) TA.

The main responsibilities include:

Strategic design and delivery

• Contribute to the development, maintenance and review of strategy and strategic vision for the Country Office with a strong focus on gender integration across all programmatic sectors.
• Support in developing program strategies and annual plans ensuring coordination of all technical input to country strategy, proposals and reports.
• Ensure the development of standardized programs and sector log-frames aligned with strategy and partnership strategy.
• Lead on the development of the relevant sectoral guidelines, SoPs and Toolboxes
• Works closely with the MEAL Manager on needs assessments, program analysis to support annual strategy review and planning process.
• Works closely with the MEAL Team in developing a research program by defining research topics and providing technical oversight to projects.
• Responsible that program quality meets CARE objectives and respect humanitarian standards.
• Ensure that technical sectorial staff provide input into proposals and proactively and regularly communicate planned requirements for program design and implementation to relevant Country Office departments/functions.
• Lead on developing programs that are adaptive and can respond to humanitarian crisis as and when necessary.

Line and team management

• Ensure that the different technical sectors of the Country Office are coordinated, integrated and support each other to optimize programs and projects.
• Monitor the recruitment, training, and promotion of program technical staff to ensure core functions are filled.
• Manage direct reports using CARE performance management policies and procedures and through appropriate coaching, mentoring, training, and development.

Partnerships

• Ensure technical support to the partner organizations across field offices, coordinating with the Knowledge and Capacity Development Manager.
• Support the partnership modality by ensuring partner’s participation in the design and implementation of area and sector-based plans.
• Ensure the program technical team is adapted to the partnership modality and their service to the modality is done so, it strengthens the model further emergency preparedness and response.

Cross-cutting

• Support the implementation of fully Durable Solutions.
• Support the MEAL department in their capacity to strengthen accountability mechanisms throughout the response.
• Support Area Offices in meeting their needs for quality programming and developing programs that meet the needs we serve.
• Ensure excellent coordination and cooperation with technical advisors as well as rapid response teams during emergencies;
• Lead on ensuring the appropriate level of technical input into any emergency response.

External Representation and Networking

• Engage with UN (United Nations) Agencies on a sectoral or cross-sector basis regarding working group/cluster architecture to manage CARE commitments and effective performance.
• Support in establishing, maintaining, and improving active and regular working relationships with partner agencies including humanitarian and development donors, and local and international NGOs;
• Maintain a network with CARE HQ Technical Advisors to secure technical resources to support the strategy and to support the delivery of CARE strategies.
• Respect all CARE values in cluster, field visits or in any relevant external events ;
• Liaise with local authorities, communities and other relevant stakeholders on project-related issues when required;
• Liaise with relevant consortium members’ focal points.

Additional job responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties assigned by the DCD PI within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

The post holder should be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

• At least 10 years’ experience in an NGO environment, preferably with solid experience in more than one of human sectors: gender, protection, Shelter/WASH, FSL in emergency context;
• Minimum of 5 years of prior experience working in humanitarian emergency, conflict, post-conflict, or post-disaster settings AND in implementing Gender Equality and Inclusion program, or related areas.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in strategic leadership and external representation.
• Recognized leadership role in relevant technical areas at both field and country level;
• Experience in working with partner organizations in humanitarian settings;
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff and partners in technical skills, knowledge and theory
• A general appreciation of the issues concerning the NGO sector, both development and humanitarian issues;
• Good analytical skills. Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector working;
• Demonstrable experience of working and developing key project management tools including work plans, Log-frames, Budgets, HR and Monitoring and Evaluation plans;
• Demonstrable ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, tasks efficiently in a high-stress, fast-paced environment;
• Demonstrable experience of working in conflict/volatile security contexts;
• Demonstrated commitment to the aims and principles of CARE, particularly concerning gender equity in emergency programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating an environment within CARE’s workplaces, programming, and communities where CARE works that is free from sexual harassment, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and child abuse (SHEA-CA).
• Ability to represent CARE effectively in external forums, including advocacy and networking with duty bearers (negotiation and influencing skills).
• Experience developing technical guidance in line with humanitarian, protection, gender, and social inclusion principles and international standards, especially in the areas of Gender Equality, Inclusion, PSHEA and GEDI.
• Commitment to the principles of confidentiality, survivor-centered approach, and Do No Harm principle.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and coaching.
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skill;
• Demonstrable experience in capacity development;
• Strong people management skills;
• Ability to produce high quality reports;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and computer literate;
• Proficiency in Ukrainian language or other regional language is an asset.

Accountability:

A commitment to CARE values and CARE’s integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with CARE’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within the programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a CARE staff or partner.

Safeguarding:

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of CARE activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Gender Equality:

CARE is committed to meeting the standards of the CARE International Gender Policy (2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices.

How to apply

Please send your CV (in pdf format max. 4 pages) and a cover letter in English to , no later than 9 November 2023. Please name your documents Surname_CV, Surname_Cover Letter. Put Head of Technical Unit as the subject title of your email. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.